Fairfield, Connecticut, USA
In November 2022, Fairfield University unveiled a new multi-purpose, on-campus arena – the Leo D. Mahoney Arena. The 3,500-seat facility serves as home for the University’s basketball and volleyball teams, as well as concerts, commencements, and other larger on-campus events.
Leo D. Mahoney Arena by Centerbrook Architects and Planners LLP., won an 2025 International Architecture Award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.
Located in the heart of campus, the Leo D. Mahoney Arena provides a hub of activity for students and the local community. Three sides of exterior glass provide exciting views into events and out towards the campus.
The arena’s lower bowl seats 2,400 while the upper seats 1,100. The audience is brought closer to the action with two decks of tiered seating, providing more intimacy for staged events, and a din of excitement for sports games.
The curved roof is a nod to the arena’s 1959 predecessor. Natural light modeling was used to detail its glass and eaves to maximize natural light while eliminating direct sun on the court surface.
Architects: Centerbrook Architects and Planners LLP.
Design Team: Jim Childress, Jon Lavy, Ken Cleveland, Aaron Emma, Andrew Wait, Dan Batt, Elizabeth Hedde, Ghalia Ajouz, James Regnier, Jay Klebeck, Katherine Watts, Minnu Srinivasan, and Misha Semenov-Leiva
General Contractor: The Gilbane Building Company
Client: Fairfield University
